Automatic starting mechanism



June 4, 1935. L. K. LOEHR 51' AL AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM Filed Jan.23, 1931 2 Sheets-Shet 1 T0 IGNITION 5 IP-1H!!!" INI/ENTORS Leslie K.Loehr 33 111' 'Mzync E. Burdz'ck Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM of Nevada Application January23,

' 20 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic starting systems for internalcombustion engines and more particularly to improvements in automaticelectrical starting systems. I v I Electrical systems have heretoforebeen devised for controlling the starting mechanism of internalcombustion engines whereby closure of a manual switch such as theignition switch of the engine will cause the starting mechanism to crankthe engine, and to automatically restart the engine in case it shouldstall. These systems have in general relied on electrical or fluid,

pressure efiects of the rotation of the engine or its auxiliaries torender the starting mechanism inoperative while the engine is running.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel, automaticstarting system which is highly efficient and reliable in operation andof comparatively simple and economical construction.

Another object is to provide such a device including mechanical meansfor the automatic control of the starting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which iscontrolled mechanically both by an element driven by the engine and anelement driven by-the starting motor.

Another. object-is to provide such a device in which the starting motorcircuit is caused to be interrupted by governor mechanism driven fromthe starting motor, and in which said circuit is maintained open by agovernor device driven from the engine;

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in thisart from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the governor mechanism driven bythe starting motor taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially on the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

.Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in perspective showing' the motorcontrolled governor switch and part of its actuating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on a somewhat reduced scale of the governorswitch controlled by the generator;

Fig. Bis a longitudinal sectional view of another form of governorswitch mechanism taken substantially on the iine 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line I -I of Fig. 6;

1931, Serial No. 510,632

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same substantially on the line 88 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of the switch contact members taken on theline 9-9 of Fig 6; and

Fig. 10 is a detail of the operating screw member for the governorswitch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6. r

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, an electrical system for internal combustionengines is illustrated comprising a battery |2 generator l3, andstarting motor l4. One terminal of the battery is grounded as indicatedat I5 and the other terminal is connected by means of leads IS, l1, l8and I9 through ammeter A and automatic cutout 20 to one terminal 2| ofthe generator IS. The generator is grounded as indicated at 22 and isadapted to be driven by means of a. gear wheel 23 from the internalcombustion engine, not .shown, whereby operation of the engine serves tomaintain the battery charged.

The starting motor l4 which is grounded as indicated at 24 is adapted tobe energized from the battery.l2 by means of a circuit including leadsI6, 25 and 21 and an automatic starting switch indicated generally bynumeral 29. The automatic starting switch comprises stationary contactmembers 3| and 33 and a movable bridging contact 35 mounted on anoperating member in the form of a sliding plunger 31, insulatedtherefrom as indicated at 39 and adapted when in engagement with thestationary contact members to close the starting circuit to the motorl4.

Plunger 31 which is of suitable magnetic material is yieldablymaintained in a position to open the starting circuit by suitable meanssuch as a spring 4| bearing against an abutment 42 on said plunger and apartition member 43 of switch casing 30. Magnetic actuating means in theform of a solenoid 44 is provided to move the plunger to the right inFig. 1 to close the starting circuit.

The movable contact member 35 is slidably mounted on a reduced portion46 of the plunger 31- and is yieldably maintained against the abutment42 of said plunger as by means of a spring 48 bearing at one end againstthe member 35 and at the other end against an abutment 50. The abutment50 is suitably fixed to the reduced portion 46 of the plunger 31 as bymeans of a nut 5| and, if desired, may be constructed as shown in theform of an obturator slidably mounted in a closed cylindrical extension52 of the switch casing 30 and forming therewith a dash pot whichretards the movement of the plunger 37 in a direction to close thestarting switch.

One terminal of solenoid 44 is connected by means of leads 54 and 5G toa manually operated controlling means in the form of a switch 58 whichis'preferably the ignition switch of the engine, and which is connectedby a lead 68 to the battery lead II. The other terminal of solenoid 44is connected-by a lead 62 to one terminal 63 of a mechanically operatedcontrolling means responsive to the speed of rotation of the start-Y inseries in the circuit of solenoid 44 and so arranged that saidcentrifugal switches are opened at suitable rotative speeds assumed bythe startthe engine becomes self-operative.

It will be noted that since the three con olling switches, namely themanual switch 58, the motor governor switch 64 and the generatorgovernor switch '12, are all arranged in series in the circuit of thestarting switch solenoid 44, said three switches jointly control theoperation of the starting switch; and all three must be closed in orderto eifect the closure of the starting switch. 7

A preferred form of the governor switch mechanism mounted on thestarting motor is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings. Asthere illustrated, terminals 63 and 68 are connected to slip rings I4and I6 rigidly mounted in a casing 18 and insulated therefrom as bymeans of an insulating sleeve (Fig. 3).

ing motor and the generator respectiveiwhen A circular plate 82 ismounted on the end of the motor shaft to rotate therewith as by means ofa cap screw 84, Fig. 2, and carries a centrifugal governor deviceillustrated as comprising a pair of levers 86 and 88 eccentricallypivoted thereon, at 90 and 92 and provided with weights 94 and 86 isyieldably opposed by suitable means such as a spring I00. The arm 86 isformed as a bell crank lever, one arm of which terminates in a segmentalrack I02 adapted to mesh with a pinion I04 freely pivoted on the plate82 as by means of.

a pin. I06. A bracket I88 fixed rigidly to the periphery of the plate 82is formed to extend over the pin I85, suitably spaced therefrom andcarries pin IIII arranged in alignment with the pin I86. A yoke membercomprising parallel arms H2 and H4 and a cross pin IIG is journaled onthe pins 106 and M8, the arm 4 being provided with a squared openingadapted to engage with a squared hub III on the pinion I84 so that theyoke member is constrained to rotate with said pinion. A switch arm H8is arranged to be journaled on pinsllfllinand H8 between the arms H2 andI I4 of the yoke member and carries at its outer end a bridging contactmember I20 insulated therefrom as indicated at I2I, and suitably fixedthereto as by means of rivets I22.

Contact member I 28 is adapted to swing into The levers are connectedfor and out of contact with the slip rings I4 and I6, it's inwardswinging movement being limited by a pin I24 mounted in the plate 82.The position of switch member H8 is controlled by means of a spring I26which is attached at one end to the outerend of said switch member andat its other end to the pin H6 of the yoke member so that the switchmember and yoke form a toggle mechanism and the switch arm H8 is movedwith a snap action whenever the yoke-is swung sufficiently to cause thespring to pass the dead center position.

If desired, means may be employed to retard the closing action of switchmember M8 for a predetermined interval after the starting motor hasslowed down below the critical speed. Such retarding means isillustrated in the form of a dash pot I28 mounted on plate 82 andconnected to the swinging arm 88 for that purpose. It will be understoodthat this dash pot performs an analogous function to the dash pot formedby the obturator 50' and either such device may be omitted or the twomay be used in conjunction, in which case their efiect is cumulative.

The generator operated governor switch I2 as illustrated in Fig. 5 is ingeneral similar to the motor operated switch just described except thatin the generator switch there is buta single slip ring I30 connected tothe terminal-.10 and the switch member 2! is provided with a contactshoe 220 which is grounded on said switch member whereby when thecontact 220 engages the slip ring I38 the latter is grounded to theframe of the generator and thence to the ground connection 22. It willbe understood {that a dash pot such as I28 may be used in {he eneratorgovernor switch if so desired. The remaining parts of the generatorswitch correspond with the parts of the motor switch which are numberedanalogously thereto and a specific description thereof is thereforebelieved to be unnecessary.

The operation of the device as above described is as follows:

When the parts are in their normal positions of rest, closure of theignition switch 58 by the operator completes a circuit from the batterythrough leads I6, I1, 68, 58, 54, solenoid 44 and the lead 62 to themotor governor switch 64.

Since the motor is at rest, bridging contact I20 rest, contact 228 is inengagement with the slip ring I38 so that the circuit is completed tothe ground and the solenoid 44 is energized to draw the starting switchmember 35 into engagement with contacts 3i and 33 causing the actuationof the starting motor It to turn over the engine. The governor switches64 and I2 are so set that the Rotation of the starting motor and thegenerator during the cranking of the engine is insuflicient to cause thegovernor switches to open, and the cranking therefore continues untilthe engine starts. When the engine starts, the starting'motor isinstantly accelerated to high speed which causes the motor governorswitch 64 to operate to open the contact I28, breaking the circuitthrough the solenoid 44 and thus allowing the starting switch member 35to open. As soon as the engine picks up, and before the starting motorhas slowed down, the generator governor switch 12 will be operated bythe rotathe solenoid the motor will come to rest and the motor governorswitch 54 closes, but the solenoid 44 is prevented from operation by thegenerator governor switch 12 while the engine is running.

Should the engine stop for any reason, the rotation of the generatorceases and the generator governor switch 12 is caused to close.Thereupon 44 operates the starting switch member 35 and the startingoperation is repeated.

It will be noted that due to the arrangement of the parts and thereversal of the effects of the springs I26 and 226 on switch members H8and 2l8, the governor switches will remain open at considerably lowerrotative speeds than are required to initially open said switches. Thisis advantageous in conjunction with the use of the dash pots 50, 52 or-I28 in obviating the possibility of tooearly'action of the switcheseither in opening or closing.

Another form of governor switch is illustrated in Figs. 6 to inclusiveof thedrawings. In this form of the invention, a circular plate 30! isrigidly mounted on the end of a driving shaft 303 which may be thestarting motor shaft, by means of a cap screw 305 (Fig. 10) having ahead 33? for clamping said plate .to the shaft, anda coarsely threadedaxial extension 309.

The plate 30l carries a pair of governor members 3| I and 3|3 pivotedthereon as by means of pins 3|5 and 3| 1 and provided with weights SIS,32! and segmental racks 323 and 325. The governor members 3 and 313 arenormally retained in their inner positions by yielding means such assprings 321 and 329.

The segmental racks 323 and 325 are adapted to mesh with a pinion member33I which is internally threaded as shown in-Fig. 6 to engage thecoarsely threaded extension 339 of the cap screw 305 so that rotation ofthe pinion by outward movement of the segmental racks will causelongitudinal motion of the pinion to the right in Fig. 6. A switchoperating member 333 is rigidly mounted in the outer end of said pinionmember 33! and is provided with shoulders 335 and 33'! adapted to engagethe free end of a lever 339 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 34!supported by a pair of brackets 343 and 345 (Fig. 8) fixed to the casing341 of the governor switch. The opposite end of the lever 339 carries apin 349 on which are mounted a pair of springs 35l and 353.

A switch arm 355 formed as a yoke to straddle the switch actuatingmember 333 is also pivoted on said pin 3 and carries near its other enda cross pin 35'! to which the opposite ends of springs 35l and 353 areattached. The outer end of switch arm 355 is provided with a contactmember in the form of a double headed rivet 359insulated from said armas by being carried by an insulating strip 359 rigidly carried by saidarm and adapted to contact with two fixed switch members 351 and 363.

If the governor switch is to be mounted on the starting motor, both theswitch members 351 and are insulated from the governor switch casing 341as illustrated in Fig. 9 and are provided with terminals 355 and 361 forconnection similar to terminals 63 and 66 shown in Fig. 1. If the switchis to be used as the generator governor switch only one terminal such as355 is required, and the insulation of the opposite contact such as 353is omitted so that said contact is grounded on the generator frame.

It will be understood that a dash pot may be provided in this type ofgovernor switch to retard the closing action thereof if so desired butan illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In the operation of this form of governor switch, rotation of thedriving shaft 303 above a critical minimum speed will cause the weights3 I 9 and 32| to move outwardly by centrifugal force against the actionof springs 321 and 329, thus causing the rotation of pinion 33l on thescrew threads 339 in a direction to move said pinion longitudinally tothe right in Fig. 6. The shoulder 335 on the switch actuating member 333is thus caused to swing the lever 339 in a counterclockwise directionwhereby the springs 35! and 353 are caused to snap the switch arm 355into .its open position against the stop member 369. When the rotationof shaft 303 falls below a predetermined minimum, the reverse actiontakes place and the switch arm 355 is snapped into closed position.

It will benoted that in this embodiment of the invention the effectiveleverage of thesprings 32'! and 329 decreases as the weights 3I9 and 32|move outwardly since the axes of said springs approach the lines drawnthrough the anchorages of said springs and the pivots 3|5 and 3|lrespectively. By this arrangement much less force is required to holdthe weights in their outward position than to move them into suchposition so that as pointed out in connection with the embodiment of theinvention first described, the governor switch will remain open at amuch lower speed of rotation than that required to open said switch.

Although certain'embodiments have been illustrated and described indetail, it will be understood that these embodiments are not exclusiveand that various changes may be made in the proportions and arrangementsof the parts without department from the spirit of the invention.

Reference will therefore be had to the claims appended hereto to definethe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. Automatic starting mechanism for internalcombustion engines including a starting motor, a switch for controllingsaid motor, operating means for said switch, and manual means andmechanical means for jointly controlling said operating means, saidmechanical means being responsive to the rotational speed of thestarting motor.

2. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion enginesincluding a starting motor, a switch for controlling said motor,operating means forsaid switch, and manual means and mechanical meansfor rendering said operating means inoperative, said mechanical meansbeing responsive to the rotational speed of said engine and of thestarting motor.

3. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including an electrical starting motor, a switchadapted to control the operation of said motor,

electrical means for operating said starting switch, and mechanicalspeed responsive means driven from said motor for controlling saidoperating means.

4. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including an electrical starting motor, a switchadapted to control the operation of said motor, electrical means foroperating said starting switch, mechanical speed responsive mechanismdriven from said engine, and similar mechanism driven from said motor,said mechanism being adapted to jointly control said operating means.

5. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including a starting motor, a magnetic switch forcontrolling said motor, an electrical circuit including a manualignition switch and a mechanically operated switch for jointlycontrolling said magnetic switch, and a centrifugal governor devicedriven from the starting motor for operating said mechanical switch tomaintain the control circuit open as long as the motor is operatingabove a predetermined speed.

6. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including a starting motor, a magnetic switch forcontrolling the starting motor and an operating circuit for saidmagnetic switch including a switch mounted on the generator and a switchmounted on the motor, said switches being adapted to. jointly controlsaid operating circuit, means to maintain said generator switch open aslong as the generator is rotating above a predetermined,speed, and meansto maintain the motor switch open as long as the motor is rotating abovea predetermined speed.

7. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including a starting motor, a magnetic switch forcontrolling the starting motor and an operating circuit for saidmagnetic switch ineluding a switch mounted on the generator and a switchmounted on the motor, said switches being adapted to jointlycontrol saidoperating circuit, a centrifugal governor device driven from rotatedabove a predetermined speed to main-' tain the motor switch open.

8. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines, an automaticstarting mechanism including a starting motor, a magnetic switch forcontrolling thestarting motor and an operating circuit for said magneticswitch including a pair of switches for controlling said operatingcircuit, a centrifugal governor device driven from the generator forcontrolling one of said switches, and a centrifugal governor devicedriven from the starting motor for controlling the other said switch,both said governor devices being adapted to open their switches at apredetermined speed above the rotative speed of the parts during thecranking operation, and to close the switches at a predeterminedsubstantially lower speed.

9. In an electrical system for internal combustion engines; an automaticstarting mechanism including an electrical starting motor, a magneticswitch for controlling said motor, an electrical control circuitincluding a manual ignition switch and a mechanically operated switchjointly controlling said magnetic switch, and

' means for operating said mechanical switch from said starting motorwhereby said control circuit is maintained open during thedeceleratio'n'period' of said starting motor, and ,means associated withsaid mechanical switch to delay its closing until a predetermined timeafter the said starting motor has come substantially to rest.

10. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion enginesincluding a starting motor, a switch for controlling said motor,operating means for said switch, and mechanical 11. Automatic startingmechanism for internal combustion engines including a starting motor, aswitch for controlling said motor, operating means for saidswitch,.means for controlling said operating means including mechanicalmeans responsive to the rotational speed of the engine for energizingthe motor in case of engine stall, and mechanical means responsive tothe rotational speed of the motor for deenergizing the motor when itspins freely.

12. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor, said controlling means comprising amain switch for controll'ng the connection of the starting motor withsaid current source and a plurality of secondary switches controllingthe action of said main switch, one of said switches being controlled bythe speed of the engine and another of said switches being controlled bythe speed of the starting motor.

13. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor, said controlling means comprising amain switch for controlling the connection of the starting motor withsaid current source and a plurality of centrifugal secondary switchescontrolling the action of said main switch, one of said centrifugalswitches being controlled by the engine, and the other of saidcentrifugal switches being controlled by the speed of the startingmotor.

14. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor, said controlling means comprising amain switch for controlling the connection of the starting motor withsaid current source and a plurality of contrifugal secondary switchescontrolling the action of said main switch, one of said centrifugalswitches being operated by the generator shaft and the other of saidcentrifugal switches being operated by the shaft of the starting motor.

15. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor, said controlling means comprising amain switch for controlling the connection of the starting motor withsaid current source, and a plurality of speed responsive secondaryswitches for controlling the action of the main switch, one of saidsecondary switches being operative in response to the speed of thegenerator shaft, and the other of said secondary switches beingoperative in response to the speed of the shaft of the starting motor.

16. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor. said controlling means comprising amagnetic switch controlling the circuit between the current source andsaid starting motor, and a plurality of automatically operatedmechanical switches controll ng the action of said magnetic Switch, oneof said mechanical switches being operable in response to the speed ofthe engine and another of said switches being operable by the startingmotor itself.

17. Control apparatusfor internal combustion engines, comprising acurrent source, a starting motor, a generator, and means for controllingthe operation of the starting motor, said controlling means comprising amagnetic switch'controlling the circuit between the current source andsaid starting motor, and a plurality of automatically operatedmechanical switches controlling the action of said magnetic switch, oneof said mechanical switches being driven by the generator shaft andanother of said switches being driven by the shaft of the startingmotor.

18. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising astarting motor therefor, a current source, a generator, and means forcontrolling the operation'of said starting motor, said controlling meansincluding a plurality of centrifugal switches operable by the engine andthe starting motor respectively to render the starting motorinoperative, said centrifugal switches being so constructed that agreater speed of the engine and starting motor is necessary to effectopening of said switches than to subsequently maintain the switchesopen.

19. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising astarting motor therefor, a current source, a generator, and means forcontrolling the operation of said starting motor, said controlling meansincluding a magnetic switch controlling the starting motor anda'plurality of automatic mechanically operatedswitches for controlling theaction of said autopinion adapted to be automatically moved by thevstarting motor into driving engagement with a part of the engine to bedriven thereby whenever the starting motor is operative, a currentsource, a switch for closing the circuit between the starting motor andthe current source to render the starting motor operative, a pluralityof switches for controlling the operation of said last named switch, oneof said plurality of switches being controlled by the engine and theother of said switches being controlled by the starting motor itself. r

LESLIE K. LOEHR. WAYNE E. BURDICK.

